British police commissioner says armed citizens could help fight terrorists

By Andrew Shepperson

Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez (Photo: BBC)
A British police and crime commissioner has come under fire for suggesting gun-owning citizens could help in the fight against terror.
During a BBC Radio interview on Monday, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez responded to a caller’s question about gun owners trying to defend themselves with their own firearms during a terrorist attack, the Guardian reported.
“If there should ever be a terrorist attack, what happens if I and other people try to defend themselves using those guns?” asked the caller, a gun owner and former firearms dealer. “What would be the repercussions?”
Hernandez replied that it was a “good question” and asked the caller to write the question down so that she could formally speak to the constable about it.
“Because this might be some of our solution to our issues,” Hernandez added.
When pressed by the interviewer if she was condoning “vigilantism,” Hernandez said: “I’m just saying, let’s officially have a look at that and see what would be the implications of it. Let’s unpick it a little bit.”
“We work with businesses to keep our communities safe,” she continued. “I’d really be interested to explore that with the chief constable.”
The caller